To document the restoration and repair of the Bristol Channel Cutter "Sea Star", now "Rose", following damage suffered in Sept 2008 Hurricane Ike.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Heads Up

A Pittsburg entrepenuer has developed and now markets a fresh water toilet flushing device that taps into the boat's fresh water system to provide one gallon of pressure free potable water to your existing msp. The Freshflush system not only eliminates the odors associated with a salt water toilet flushing system but also the need for a dedicated raw water intake thru-hull, seacock and associated plumbing. The Freshflush tank is 10 inches in diameter,13 inches tall and automatically refills after flushing.

The conversion from salt to fresh water for flushing is a permanent retrofit that allows one to use existing appliances and plumbing circuitry. But there is no switching back and forth from raw to pot water using a Y valve or any other manifold system. It would just be a matter of time before a washed out valve turned the pot water tank to a salt water tank.

The raw water thru hull and intake line that used to be dedicated to the head will now be available for watermaker feed, anchor chain washdown and a 3 valve fire main circuit. The one raw water intake willl feed these plumbing circuits through a small Shurflow 3 valve manifold. One of the three fire hose outlet valves will be located in the head compartment. Should a fresh water conservation plan have to be effected as a result of water maker breakdown or other such, I will close the freshwater feed to the Freshflush and use the fire main hose to fill the toilet bowl as required.

Groco tested the system and reports that it works great even "heeling as much as 45 degrees". I am on the test boat heeling 45 degrees? Yes, you can look for me in the head.

All well and good for coastal and day sailing but what about the live aboard international cruisier? The water maker will be a dc powered EchoTec model 260 producing 13 gallons per hour pulling 38 amps at 12.5 volts. (Make your water while you charge your batteries!) Will be interesting to see how actual performance stacks up against advertised.

Rose (ex Sea Star)

Wateragate Kemah 2001

History

Sea Star is Bristol Channel Cutter Hull no 76 built by Sam L Morse Shipyard in 1987. On September 13th, 2008 Hurricane Ike hit Galveston Texas damaging many of the boats in the Galveston Yacht Basin. Because I had her grossly under insured the insurance company declared her a total loss, paid me the full insured value and gave me 30 days to buy the wreck or turn over the title. Having just retired I decided to restore her and bring her back with a traditional gaff rig as Lyle Hess originally drew her. This blog is meant to document the restoration and solicit constructive critisism from other BCC and traditional pilot cutter sailors and builders.